Peanut-stemmer.



J. H. MACLEARY & H. D. E. LITTLE.

PEANUT STEMMER.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 22, 1913 1,083,844. Patented Jan. 6, 1914.

attan/W13 J. H. MAOLEARY H. D. E. LITTLE.

PEANUT STEMMER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22,1913.

Patented J an. 6, 1914.

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JOSEPH HENRY MACLEAEY AND HUGH I). E. LITTLE, OF SUFFOLK, VIRGINIA.

PEANUT-STE1VIMER.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 22, 1913.

Patented Jan. 6, 1914.

Serial No. 769,235.

1 b all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Josnrrr H. MAGLEARY and HUGH D. E. LITTLE, ofSuffolk, in the county of Nansemond and State of Virginia, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Peanut-Stemmers; and we do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

The object of this invention is to provide simple and highly eflicientmeans for readily and easily removing stems from peanuts without dangerof breaking the shells of the latter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective. Fig. 2is an end view, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of thescrew and the cooperating saws.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates a frame whereon is mounted acylindrical casing 2 having an opening in its top through which thepeanuts with their stems are delivered from a hopper 3. Extendinglongitudinally within cylinder 2 is a screw l, the spiral of whichtravels within close proximity to the cylinder. We have shown the shaft5 of this screw mounted in bearings on cross pieces of frame 1, and onthis shaft we have indicated a sprocket wheel 6 to which power may beapplied from any suitable source.

77 designates two series of saws mounted on shafts or mandrels 8 whichparallel shaft 5, but on a lower plane, being located beneath cylinder 2at equal distances from the vertical longitudinal center of the screw.The bearings for shafts 8 are shown 1nounted on a hanger 9 of frame 1.Each saw is shown in the form of a disk provided at its periphery with aseries of teeth facing all in the same direction. Segments of these sawsproject into the cylinder, which latter is provided with spaced-apartslots 10 to accommodate the saws. The spiral of the screw is alsoprovided with spaced-apart transverse slots 12 for the same purpose,

since the saws protrude into the plane of the spiral so that as thescrew and the saws are rotated the stems will be effectively removedfrom the peanuts, which latter will be discharged from the cylinder atone end thereof.

We have shown each of the shafts 8 as having sprocket wheels 13 withwhich driving chains are designed to engage, power being preferablytransmitted from the same source as that which operates the screw. It ispreferred to rotate the series of saws in opposite directions, but thisis immaterial as they may be operated in the same direction.

In practice, a fan is usually employed to create a draft within thestemmer but as this is an ordinary expedient it has not been shown. Thestems with the peanuts thereon are dropped into hopper 3 and are takenup by the screw and carried into and through the cylinder, and uponcoming into contact with the rotary saws the stems will be quickly andthoroughly separated from the nuts without danger of injuring thelatter.

We claim as our invention:

1. A stemmer comprising a cylinder, a screw within said cylinder, and aseries of saws projecting into the cylinder and intersecting the spiralof the screw.

2. A stemmer comprising a cylinder, a screw extending longitudinally ofsaid cylinder, and one or more series of saws also extending into thecylinder on opposite sides of the screw.

3. A stemmer comprising a cylinder having a series of spaced-apartslotsformed therein at or near its bottom, a screw within said cylinder, thespiral of said screw having a series of spaced-apart slots designed tocoincide with the slots in the cylinder, and a series of rotary sawsprojecting through the slots in the cylinder and into the slots in thescrew.

4. A stcmmer comprising a cylinder, a hopper opening into said cylinder,said cylinder having one or more series of spacedapart slots in itsunderside on opposite sides of its center, a screw within said cylinderhaving slots in its spiral coincident with the specification in thepresence of two subslots 1n the cylinder, and one or more seriesscriblng Witnesses.

of rotary saws located on opposite sides of JOSEPH HENRY MACLEARY. thecylinder and projecting through the HUGH D. E. LITTLE. 5 slots in thelatter and into the slots in the \Vitnesses:

screw. G. S. P. HOLLAND, Jr.,

In testimony whereof, We have signed this B. E. SAUNDERS.

copies ot this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

